First-time skier Kate Bromley chose Thredbo, in the NSW Snowy Mountains, for her initiation.

I don’t know which had been the greater deterrent; the thought of total embarrassment as I spent more time on my backside than my skis, the risk of knee surgery or the idea that a skiing holiday is not for budget travellers. But for some reason I had always put off a skiing trip.

However, within hours of hitting the beginners’ slope I was hooked. Skiers talk passionately about the feeling of freedom and the away-from-it all experience evoked by expansive views and clear mountain air. Now I know what they mean.

I am not a sporty type. Far from it. And you don’t need to be superman or superwoman to ski. General fitness helps, but lugging my groceries upstairs every week had prepared me well enough.

A group of us decided to head to Thredbo for a week during winter. The allure of a charming alpine village, with a lively nightlife and plenty of bars, restaurants and young people had won us over. And Thredbo is not too big; we liked the idea of that.

In preparation we spent ages comparing the options of renting all the gear a ski trip required in Sydney, en route or in Thredbo. We decided to hire everything in Thredbo as we were worried whether we would fit it all in the car! Renting in Thredbo isn’t the cheapest option but is convenient.

We left Sydney very early and were in Thredbo by lunchtime. There were snow chains in the boot, I‘m not sure any of us really knew what to do with them, but there was security in having them.

Thredbo YHA is spacious and purpose built, with a great atmosphere. We knew that, but we were impressed with its great location. As total skiing virgins we were keen to get organised and headed straight to Friday Flat, the ski-centre hub, to check things out. The process was simple. We each purchased a ski pass that included a 2-hour lesson each day, unlimited access to the slopes and lifts, and a ski/boot/clothes package.   Beginners are encouraged to come to Thredbo and we obviously weren’t alone. In minutes we were laden up and set off back to our room, to have a practice run of dressing for the big event in private!

Thredbo Village

Friday Flat makes Thredbo perfect for first time skiers. It is an area with a long gentle slope, wide enough to ensure there’s room for beginners of all levels. Snowmaking begins in May and is active all season long, so although Friday Flat is fairly low, there is always enough snow for lessons. Two chairlifts take advanced beginners and intermediate skiers to more adventurous terrain. And importantly, there’s Friday’s - a large café and bar with outdoor tables, perfect to enjoy the sun, snow and staring at ski instructors.

It was to Friday Flat we came, courtesy of the regular ski shuttle bus, for our initiation. Obstacle number one was how to walk in ski boots! I was told not to do up all the buckles. That helped. The clever people had moon boots, (fashionable gumboots) which they wore to the slopes, and switched to their ski-boots at the lockers. Walking in ski boots is like dragging a lead weight with every step and we hobbled every metre from the bus stop to the lesson meeting point  - all 100 metres. Loaded up with a scarf, gloves (I soon discovered it best to wear these as I carried my skis – over the shoulder of course) a beanie, sun block, sunglasses, lip balm and a disposable camera, I wondered why I felt so awkward.

Once on the snow it felt like the first day at school. I was absolutely terrified. But our instructor started at the very beginning. Lessons in how to put on the skis and do up the boots came first. We progressed to holding our poles and carrying skis before we came to the difficult part – moving. And this is where Thredbo excels. It has a wonderful rubber moving walkway to take beginners up a very slight hill. It was obviously made for four year olds, but hey, I wasn’t in a position to be embarrassed.

Getting off the people mover was a bit of a problem. I stopped dead and seemed unable to move. It seemed those poles had a purpose after all and I pushed my way out of the firing line as the other beginners came up in quick succession.

Once on the hill, (which by the end of the week seemed virtually flat), the gorgeous Canadian instructor went step by step through the intricacies of the snowplough. We made huge curves, going in single file at an imperceptible pace from one side of the slope to the other. It was an extraordinary feeling, totally exhilarating at 5 kilometres an hour!

It wasn’t long before we all realised that skiing is not that difficult. It is a combination of balance and confidence and the rest just sort of comes with practice. The instructors were great and never took a group to a steeper part of the slope, let alone the mountain, until each skier was ready. Some people progressed faster and they were siphoned off to other groups. Although we progressed slowly, by day three we took the chairlift up to a real run. What a sense of achievement. This was when I knew that skiing could become addictive. The stunning views from the chairlift combined with the stillness and regular swoosh of skis was so calming. City life, work, the daily routine couldn’t have been further away. 

Up high on the gentle mountain slopes we spent the days slowly improving our technique. We learnt skiing was about control first and foremost, not speed. You didn’t have to zoom down from top to bottom as fast as possible, although the idea became quite appealing.

So we all survived, beginners together, with no real accidents, a few embarrassing moments and without breaking the bank. And I’ve bought my moon boots. I’ll be back next year.